Interview of Francine McKenzie – World Teacher’s Day 2021

In the following interview, we ask Francine McKenzie, an educator, about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on professional training and what things can parents do to support teacher’s during this ongoing pandemic.

Interviewer: Has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted or changed your and/or your colleagues ongoing or annual professional training? How? 

McKenzie: As a result of the covid 19 pandemic my colleagues and I have had mixed experiences during our professional development (PD) exercises. On the one hand there were certain topics of a technical nature where hands-on face-to-face training would have been more beneficial. For example, the virtual training in using the Ministry of Education’s Learning Management System was not beneficial to me because I need one-on-one and in-person training with such a technical topic. I felt completely lost during those virtual training sessions.

On a positive note, the virtual training platform means that a variety of sessions are located in one place, my computer, and therefore I have more session offerings available to me. For a special educator who teaches at both high school and elementary school levels, this is a huge benefit.  In contrast when PD sessions are face-to-face, one is limited to staying in one physical location where sessions are subject specific and grade level specific.

In addition to having more flexible training the virtual platform enables us to interact with colleagues and trainers in the global environment. The virtual experience eliminates travel and living costs and increases the availability of experts in the field of education. We are thus able to participate in training opportunities not locally offered.

Interviewer: As we observe World Teachers Day, what else can parents do to support teachers?

McKenzie: Whenever I host a parent-teacher conference I gently remind parents that they are their child’s first and primary teacher. The covid-19 pandemic has proven just how true this statement is. Parents have found themselves, some unwillingly, filling in the role of teacher or teacher’s aide during the virtual learning experience.  I believe that this time is their opportunity to shine…for their child. I would love if all parents embraced this “newly-discovered” role with a passion that matches and even exceeds my own passion for teaching. 

Every morning there is a particular parent who sends me a message that can brighten the gloomiest of days.  Literally. I currently teach a widely mixed group of students and there are times when working as a whole group online is nearly impossible. After a disastrous lesson (in my opinion) I got the following voice-note: “Ms. McKenzie, you are doing an awesome job…..you can see that you are passionate about what you do………(student) is participating.”

A few words, when things seemed to be falling apart, went a long way in lifting my spirits. I realized in that moment that we teachers do benefit from encouraging words and actions as much as our students do.